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versatile and, therefore, more valuable. So if many of your everyday tasks include cutting deep mortises, then plunge depth IS an important factor. Plunge locks should be within easy reach The plunge lock might not seem important, but it is. Designed to lock the router at a preset depth, the plunge lock should release the plunge easily and conveniently while you're holding the router Lever action can make the difference between a friendly tool and one that's your enemy. ( photos facing page . ) Lever-type locks found on the PorterCable and Bosch models are right at fingertip reach and are easy to activate. Others are more difficult. On the Fein, for instance, the plunge-lock lever is mounted too far from the handle to be used easily. The Hitachi, Fein and Makita 3612C levers aren't springactivated, and you have to use the lever both to release and to lock the depth of cut. Other models, such as the DeWalt DW621, the Freud and the Craftsman, have solutions that work with varying degrees of success. Depth gauges and turret stops predetermine cuts The depth gauge and stop system on a plunge router are handy when making repet- SETTING THE DEPTH-STOP ROD Craftsman, DeWalt, Hitachi and Fein routers (photo 1) use a rack-andpinion knob that incrementally raises or lowers the depth-control rod, making the operation more precise. Although mechanically simple, the plain rod-and-set-screw design used by Porter-Cable (photo 2) and Bosch works efficiently. The threaded depth rod with push-button release used by Freud and Makita (photo 3) doesn't work as smoothly. FEIN RT 1800 (800) 441-9878 www.feinus.com Street price: $300 Weight: 12 lb. Motor: 3'/. hp. (15 amp) Six-speed/soft-start '/,-in. collet Brought to you by the company that makes orbital-sander/vacuum combos, this router is relatively new to the market. Overall, it's a solid tool, but it has some inconsistencies. The motor is quiet and smooth, and the rack-and-pinion depth stop is easy to use. The router also takes Porter-Cable template guides, always a handy feature. Although the 3-in. plunge depth is deeper than most, the plunge action is stiff, and the plunge-lock lever is not spring-loaded. Another annoyance is that the power switch aCCidentally locks into the on position. It comes with a '/,-in. collet only (the '/.-in. collet is available as an accessory), and it has a one-wrench bit change. Street price: $185 Weight: 11 lb. Motor: 3'/. hp. (15 amps) Six speed/soft start '/,-in. collet with '/.-in. adapter This machine costs about $100 less than others in the same power range, which makes it attractive to those with limited budgets. It seems to offer all the popular bells and whis- tles-variable speed, a dust port, a one-wrench bit-changing system, a travel-limiting adjustment knob-but has some rough edges. The motor is noisy and vibrates uncomfortably; the plunge action is stiff and is difficult to push down. The three-stop turret is difficult to turn. The plunge lock works the opposite of most other spring-loaded levers (locking in the up, rather than down, position). But the threaded depth-stop rod has a qUick-release button that works well, and the toggle-type power switch is easy to reach from from the handle. It does have a 3-in. plunge depth and marries a '/,- in. collet to a '/.-in. adapter. Freud has its own template guides. DECEMBER 2001/JANUARY 2002 57 FREUD FTlOOOE (800) 472-7307